$12 presale, $15 at the door, $10 students
Doors open at 7pm
"OLD SOUL" SINGER/SONGWRITER FROM NC
A songwriter’s songwriter, Kenny Roby is a master of his craft. A native of the Carolinas, Kenny Roby fronted ‘90s Alt-Country and Americana pioneers 6 String Drag. The band was produced by Steve Earle and signed to his E Squared Records. Roby has released 6 solo records as well as a live duo record with the beloved Neal Casal. Casal was slated to produce Roby’s previous 2020 solo album ‘The Reservoir’ before he unexpectedly passed away in August 2019. Dave Schools of Widespread Panic then took over production duties. Roby would later record Casal’s “Too Much To Ask” on the box set tribute ‘Highway Butterfly: The Songs Of Neal Casal.’
Roby’s self-titled new album is out on August 8th, 2022. Recorded in Woodstock, NY, special guests include legendary Lovin’ Spoonful frontman John Sebastian on harmonica, Amy Helm and Dori Freeman on background vocals and former Bob Dylan keyboardist/accordion player Brian Mitchell. The resulting collection is full of depth and darkness, but most importantly hope. Its songs are inhabited by a cast of fully human characters and their timeless stories, while sonically the recording reflects Roby’s new home in upstate New York, touching on the spirit of previous artists who once roamed the the Catskill Mountains like The Band, Bobby Charles and Tim Hardin.
Kenny Roby has been praised by numerous songwriting peers, including Michael Hurley, Citizen Cope and Ryan Adams. He’s garnered critical acclaim in Billboard, Rolling Stone, No Depression and Boston Globe, and shared stages with the Jayhawks, Buddy Miller, Whiskeytown, Son Volt, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings.
“Kenny Roby dives deep to find beauty in tragedy…the power of Roby’s songwriting is how well the stories connect with us all.”
Aisha Burns, violinist / singer-songwriter, opens the evening.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and currently based in Western Massachusetts, violinist and singer-songwriter Aisha Burns began playing violin when she was 10 years old, and has been touring and recording since 2006. Soon after moving to Austin in 2005, she gained her start with folk-rock outfit Alex Dupree and the Trapdoor Band, and joined the instrumental ensemble Balmorhea on violin in 2007. After years of secret singing, she released her solo debut Life in the Midwater in 2013. Called "twisting, ethereal...arresting" by Dazed Magazine, and praised for its "delicate intimacy" by NPR, Life in the Midwater explored mortality and relationships with candor and wisdom.
Her new album, Argonauta, is a collection of songs about her struggle with the grief of losing her mother, while also navigating a new relationship, and ultimately trying to discern the new normal for her life.